Always Broken (Book 1 and 2)

Chapter 13: She Loves You

Hey, guys. I had a horrible day yesterday. I was at school and I had to go home early because I was sick. I still have some allergies but thankfully, I'm getting a little better. Alright, let's roll into this chapter, okay?

Brad Rodriguez

I squinted my eyes as I woke up in a hospital room with a very bad headache. I could not remember what happened or why I was in the hospital to begin with. All I remembered was arguing with Jackie.

Speaking of Jackie, she was sitting right beside my bedside, sleeping and clinging to my hand. My heart skipped a beat as I looked at her beautiful face, seeing bags under her eyes. Then it came to me, suddenly. I had gotten ran over by a car, and the last thing I heard was her cries. Her cries for me.

I was not used to anyone caring about me because my past had messed me up. Even my father did not care about me. So, to have a person who stayed and looked after me in bad times mad me feel loved. Jackie made me feel like I was not just some irrelevant man, like most people treated me. But of course, I was too prideful to admit that.

When Jackie and I first got married, I thought she was just like every woman who wanted to be with me. Every woman who ever wanted to be with me only wanted to be with me for money. I thought she was just like them so that is what also caused me to treat her bad. But then I realized she was nothing like them, and the woman had a very pure soul. But that did not stop me from treating her bad because of course, I was still angry about being forced to marry a girl who was happy all the time.

But at the same time, I like being married to Jackie because she's pretty, intelligent, and strong. So, whenever I saw a man trying to get close to her, I got overly jealous. I had a hard time deciding if I really wanted to be with Jackie everyday because she annoyed me and excited me at the same time. But when I saw Jackie getting ready to get ran over by a car, the arranged marriage flew out of my head. I knew that if Jackie died, there would be no one to argue with me day to day or no one who would complain about my smart remarks. There would be no excitement left in my life from the person who truly cares about me. As annoying as my wife is, I still felt I had a duty to protect her in times of danger.

I was drawn out of my thoughts when one of the people who I had not talked to in a long time filed into the room.

"Hi," I croaked out to Annie.

"Boy, I don't want to hear any of the excuses this time. You see your wife, over there sleeping? That child is exhausted, and she's been watching over you the whole time you've been here. You are going to start treating her right or we're gonna be fighting. Understand, boy? I still have my good old nanny sticks for hitting people, even grown men," she chastised, and I chuckled.

"You always take her side," I complained, while glaring at her, and she glared right back at me.

"I should take her side. Your wife has been crying for days since you've been in this hospital. She won't leave and she's forgotten all about herself. You're her world, and if you break her heart again, I will not hesitate to find you," Annie threatened while putting her hands on her waist. My former nanny was a scary sight when she got mad. I had learned that three years ago, when I pulled a stunt and yelled at her. I would never do that again.

"She could've left," I retaliated, in a calm way.

"Stupid Boy, can't you see the signs? She loves you, and you have feelings for her. What will it take for you to give up the facade and give in? You're only hurting yourself and Jackie. What are you so scared of? Jackie won't hurt you like Lydia. Simmons is a good girl, and if you cannot see that, then you must be blind," she snapped at me, and I flinched automatically when she mentioned Lydia.